The Long-Standing Online Campaign, beginning in Germany, travelling through Italy and Greece to the Sea of Azov.

Friday, May 19, 2017

A Stranger

Sofia comes within five hexes of an orc who is working in a clearing about fifteen feet across, a wide place in the trail as it were. As near as she can tell, she has not been discovered. The orc is humming to itself, a curiously familiar tune that Sofia cannot put her finger on. Apparently, the orc has just killed an antelope, which it is in the process of freeing of its entrails. The orc has its back to Sofia.

It is dressed in the manner of an Oriental; instead of a yalma, he is wearing a heavy shirt, baggy pants and a four-inch wide beaded belt around his waist. He has removed his jacket, which appears to be embroidered silk. He is also wearing heavy leather boots, which must weigh at least three pounds each by the look of them.

He's a fairly large fellow; you would guess he to be about six-foot-six or thereabouts, weighing at least 300 lbs. You don't know enough about orcs to guess his age, but he is certainly no older than a mature male.

17 comments:

"I suggest you return and continue to watch quietly, while Kismet and I continue up the trail toward him. If this fellow has no ill intentions, I would like to talk to him about what he's seen around these parts... perhaps hire him as a guide. But if he decides to attack us, you can give him a nasty surprise."

Enrico enters the clearing. Spotting the entrails, he looks around for a blood trail or drag marks or any sign of where the Orc may have taken the animal carcass, and wishes again they had a Ranger in their party. (Looking forward to getting high enough in level that my henchman can get a henchman!)

Apparently, the orc has hefted the deer onto its shoulder and is carrying it. Searching soon reveals another trail, thinner and less easy to follow, through a thick bracket and leading in the general direction of Cauldron mountain.

No attack occurs. Do you wish to return to your scouting ahead practice and follow the new trail?